Kahyasi, who had recently suffered from a debilitating tumour, has been euthanased at the age of 23.

Until last week Kahyasi was still undertaking stallion duties and had covered 32 mares, almost all of which had been tested in foal.

Georges Rimaud, manager of the Aga Khan Studs in France said, “Unfortunately we were obliged to put an end to his pain. He was a damsire of the first order. We have kept a number of his good daughters.

“Since his arrival in France in 2001 he has been strongly supported by French breeders who were able to appreciate his eclectic qualities.”

Kahyasi established himself firmly as a stallion in terms of both fertility and the confirmation of his offspring. He produced five G.1 winners on the flat – Vereva, Zainta, Enzeli, Choc Ice and Khalkevi – and more than forty individual stakes winners.

In 2007 his best offspring were Pearl Sky, winner of the G.3 Prix Exbury, and Varevees, G.3 Prix Gladiateur winner and runner-up in the G.1 Prix du Cadran. Kahyasi also sired a number of high-class jumpers; Kasbah Bliss finished second in this year’s Gr.1 World Hurdle at Cheltenham; Karasi, the New Zealand-trained gelding won the Nakayama Grand Jump three years in succession and Top Of The Sky landed last year’s Gr.1 Prix Maurice Gillois at Auteuil.

He will always be remembered as a top-class damsire, being responsible for seven G.1 winners, perhaps most notably Zarkava, unbeaten winner of the French 1,000 Guineas and Oaks double.

Francois Doumen, Kasbah Bliss’ trainer and co-breeder, commented, “We will regret his passing a lot. Every year the Haras d’Ecouves sent him one or two mares which always proved successful for us on both the flat and over jumps. He was always good value.

“He produced horses in his own mould, sometimes a bit small for jumping, even if Kasbah Bliss was an exception. His offspring always have a good temperament and the will to win. They are sound horses that rarely develop leg problems.”

Yesterday, three of Kahyasi’s offspring won in France.
(Courtesy Jour de Galop)